Jingtong Old Trail Introduction
The Jing Tong Ancient Trail has a history of at least a hundred years. It originated during the Qing Dynasty when residents from Shui Fan Jiao (present-day Xizhi) traversed mountains and forests to settle in Jing Tong Keng by cultivating land. The residents traveled between Pingxi and Xizhi, transporting various goods using shoulder poles, which led to the formation of this mountain path. During the Japanese colonial period, there was extensive coal mining in Pingxi, resulting in a significant influx of people, turning Pingxi into a mining hub. Despite the construction of the Pingxi Railway primarily for transporting coal, the Jing Tong Ancient Trail remained an important transportation route to Xizhi. On this ancient trail, there is a large rock featuring an ancient stone tablet with a prominent upright inscription. Although the text is somewhat blurred, it can still be recognized as “Road Opening Commemorative Tablet,” erected during the Japanese colonial period to commemorate the opening of the Jing Tong Ancient Trail, marking it as an important historical site. After 1971, roads connecting Pingxi to Muzha, Ruifang, and Xizhi were successively constructed, and the ancient trail became less frequented, leaving only hikers seeking solitude to explore it. The Jing Tong Ancient Trail begins at the Eastern Mountain Creek Valley trailhead on Xiping Road, passing through the Shihua Mountain area, crossing the highest point at Panshiling where it overlaps with Xiping Road, and then entering the Pingxi District through routes including Rouban Kua, Bird's Nest Hill, Yunwu Valley, and Mo Shen Zai Cave before arriving at Jing Tong Keng. The trail is divided into two sections: the Xizhi section, which begins at the entrance on Dongshan Road near Ren'ai Bridge, and the Pingxi section, which is conveniently located opposite the Tudi Gong Temple at Panshiling. The Xizhi section features rural paths scattered with farmhouses, while the Pingxi section is characterized by rugged and dense forests, providing a significant challenge to hikers.
